Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1887-08-04
WooDLAwN FARMERS. CLUB.


The 3Oth of July found the Woodlawn
Farmers Club at the summer residence of
C. F. wilkins, near Collipgwood, but the
persistence of the thermometer in ranging
among the nineties initiated against any
hef,y consideration of agricultural matters.
The President having received circular
letter from the Office of the New York Tri-
bune in reference to the depression of the
farming interests, presented it for consider
alton. Il was accompanied by tabulated
statement of the tariff upon agricultural
products and request for this club to re-
commend what changes, if any, in the exist.
ing rates would be beneficial to the farmers
of this section Inasmuch as this subject
has been puzzliDg the heads of our states
mon for years, it was rather weighty one
to be turned over to the members of the
Farmers Club for adjudication with the
the mercury at fever heat, and thinking
that we could not do it justice in one day it
was referred to committee consisting of
n. w. Pierson, James w. Roberts and j. N.
Gibbs.
CORTLAND Lukens produced some small
bugs, bottled up for the inspection of the
members, which he had caught in his gran
airy. They were strangers to all present,
and will be sent to the entomologist of the
Agricultural Department.
Some discussion was had about the pre-
vailing grape rot President Pierson stated
that his grapes were nearly exempt from the
disease they were on well drained land and
had been we'll cultivated, pruned and ferti.
lized.
The critical report was then read, as fol
lows:
TO the Woodla1Cn Farmers Club:
Gentlemen-Your committee, knowing
that our friend Wilkins has been for some
years doing his farming principally by
proxy, and we'll knowing also, by expert
ence. what that implies, were not pre-
pared to find his surroundings in as
good order rs they are. But the pres.
ence of Mr.. Wilkins, jr., for the last
few weeks probably has had an i'm
portant influence on affairs here. 1t may
not be generally known that he is student
at tho Ohio agricultural college, located at
Columbus, where he is studying the most i'm
proved methods of agric0lati0n, and also pre-.
pairing himself for veterinarian. The lat.
ter is long felt want in nearly every rural
community, and he may rest assured of q
warm reception in this section when ne
shall have become proficient in his profess
sion. We feel deep interest in this matter
and most cordially commend the course he
is pursuing, and would be pleased to see
other young men studying the various
diseases of our domestic animals, thus rem.
dering themselves competent to relieve their
sufferngs, and at the same time saving
their owners from serious losses. Mr.. w.
ir., seems to be putting into practice. during
vacation, the theories of the institution
of which he is student.
In looking over the premises OF our friend
we find an ample barn fully stored with hay
and grain In the basement are numerous
and conveniently arranged stalls both for
horses and cattle. Adjoining the barn is a
large silo, awaiting ths growing crop of en-
silage. A large orchard Of apples end
peaches but, alas, the fruit here, as in all
the orchards in this section, is extremely
scarce. Quite an extensive vineyard, we'll
set with fruit, hut rotting badly.
portion of the field corn is looking
well; the remainder fair. Corn for ensi-
age having been planted late is yet
small, and depends upon the next few days
for its success as profitable crop. There
are but six head of neat cattle on the place,
in fair condition. We do not know
whether our host is preparing to turn jockey
or to become an enterprising breeder of
work horses. At any rate we find some ten
horses, brood.mares and colts, and one very
handsome, innocent.looking little mule. In
a dense and beautiful grove we found q
flock of about fifty sheep and lambs, but
they evidently mistook ua for butchers, as
they scampered off SO quickly, though in
the dissolying view that we had of them, it
was apparent that some of them were in
good order for the shambles.
The fields are in very proper proportion
to the size of the farm. we'll fenced, and The
corners and ditch banks closely and neatly
trimmed
Upon the whole, we think our host has
succeeded admirably when We consider the
condition of his farm when it came into his
possession, and the comparatively little per.
sonal attention no had been able to bestow
upon it. COMMITTEE.
But little progress had been made in the
road matter since last meeting. The next
meeting will be the anniversary-a basket
picnic in the grove at Woodlawn mansion
on the 9th of August, when all Interested
are invited to attend.
w. GILLlNGHAA1, Secretary.
Trying 10 Burn u Ship.